Kitty Flanagan

Kitty Flanagan (born 18 July 1968) is an Australian comedian, writer and actress. She is known for portraying Helen Tudor-Fisk in the television comedy program Fisk, which she also co-created, co-wrote and co-directed. Flanagan also starred as Rhonda Stewart in the comedy Utopia. She spent eight years based in the UK and performing around the world (2001–2009) and has performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Just For Laughs in Montreal, Canada. Flanagan won the AACTA Award for Best Comedy Performer in 2021 and has won the Silver Logie for four consecutive years in a row from 2022, for her work in Fisk and Utopia.

Early life and education Flanagan was born in Manly, a suburb in Sydney's north, in 1968.

She attended high school at Monte Sant'Angelo Mercy College in North Sydney. She recalls that, as a teenager, she and her younger sister Penny would put on avant-garde performance shows involving their younger brother Michael by dressing him in tutus and giving him dance moves to do. She occasionally read news and weather at a country radio station, waited tables and lasted only three weeks cleaning and packing crayfish in a Geraldton crayfish factory before she resigned.

In 1989, Flanagan began her five-year stint as an advertising agency copywriter, creating campaigns for products such as Quik chocolate drinking powder. After five years as a copywriter, she was fired in June 1993. Following her exit from advertising, she worked as a bartender at a hotel where there was an open mic night, so she decided to try stand-up. Her first attempt was a success and she then started her comedy career in 1994 doing stand-up at an open mic night at the Harold Park Hotel in Sydney. Her debut performance at the hotel led to a spot in the final of the hotel's Comic of the Year competition where she placed third and won a bottle of red wine. before she was spotted in December 1994 by the producer of Full Frontal. She also wrote for various other shows on the BBC, Channel Four and Sky Television. During her time in the UK, she regularly returned to Australia for short visits and appearances on television shows including Rove, Good News Week, Spicks and Specks and The Sideshow.

Flanagan took her stand-up internationally and performed at many major comedy festivals, including Edinburgh, Melbourne, Montreal, Kilkenny, Cape Town and Johannesburg. She had three months worth of work lined up in Australia and more kept coming in so she decided to stay. before joining The Project for segments on trending news topics. She toured with her sister and show co-star Penny Flanagan and tour manager and former Full Frontal co-star Glenn Butcher, the founding member of the 1980s Newcastle comedy troupe the Castanet Club.

In 2013, Flanagan toured Australia in the stand-up show Hello Kitty Flanagan.

In 2013, while in Montreal to perform Hello Kitty Flanagan, she appeared as a guest comedian on a television special hosted by Wil Anderson called Wil Does Montreal: Just For Laughs which explored what goes on behind the scenes of Montreal's Just for Laughs international comedy festival and featured some of the world's best-known comedians. Working Dog Productions asked Flanagan to work on their TV comedy series Utopia in 2013 and cast her in the role of Rhonda the public relations manager, which Flanagan played for five seasons.

Flanagan resigned from The Project in August 2014 but stayed for four months to finish the year. Charlie Pickering approached her to join his new TV show, The Weekly with Charlie Pickering, where she created the segments "Spectacular Failures of the 21st Century" and "Problem Solver".

In February 2015, Flanagan was the third ambassador for the Adelaide Fringe, succeeding singer Katie Noonan and inaugural Adelaide Fringe ambassador and comedian Paul McDermott. She toured Australia with her third stand-up comedy show, Seriously?, in 2015, with her entourage of two.

Flanagan is an advocate of writing and writers in the screen industry. She sponsored the Best Narrative Award at the 2015 Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival in Gympie and was one of the judges for the film scripts in that category.

In 2017, Flanagan and her sister Penny contributed as writers for the TV series Drop Dead Weird. Flanagan began an Australian national tour of her fourth standup show, Smashing, the same year.

In March 2018, Flanagan released a book of personal and professional autobiographical stories called Bridge Burning and Other Hobbies.

Flanagan announced her departure from The Weekly With Charlie Pickering during the final episode of season four (2018), but returned for The Yearly with Charlie Pickering special in December 2018.

In August 2018, Flanagan presented a sketch on her "pretend" book called 488 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Idiots, as a joke inspired by Jordan Peterson's book 12 Rules for Life, on The Weekly with Charlie Pickering. This idea inspired a published book in 2019 called 488 Rules for Life: The Thankless Art of Being Correct.

2021–present: Fisk In March 2021, Flanagan's sitcom Fisk, which she co-created, co-wrote, co-directed and starred in, aired on ABC TV. Fisk was nominated for and won two 2021 AACTA Awards, including Best Narrative Comedy Series and Best Comedy Performer for Flanagan. Flanagan was nominated for and won the Silver Logie for Most Popular actress at the 2022 Logie Awards for her work on Fisk. The series returned for a second season in October 2022. Flanagan again won the Silver Logie at the 2023 Logie Awards for her work in the second season of Fisk.

In 2023, Flanagan returned for the fifth season of Utopia, which aired on the ABC in June and July 2023. For this role she again won the Silver Logie at the 2024 Logie awards, with the category being changed to Best Lead actress in a Comedy. Also in 2023, she appeared on the comedy improvisation program Thank God You're Here.

In late 2023, a third season of Fisk was commissioned by the ABC, and it premiered in October 2024. Flanagan again won the Silver Logie for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy at the 2025 Logie Awards for her work in the third season of Fisk. The program took home a total of five awards, including Best Scripted Comedy Program, making it the most successful show of the ceremony.

On 22 September 2025, it was announced that Flanagan would reunite with comedian Anne Edmonds for ABC series Bad Company.

Corporate work and literary events Flanagan tailors her comedy material to suit corporate events, galas, award nights and launches. She has written and presented videos for clients such as Nokia and Subaru. In 2015, Flanagan was master of ceremonies at Art of Music Live, a music concert held every two years where a group of Australia's top visual artists come together to create an original exhibition and each artist chooses an iconic Australian/New Zealand song to inspire an artwork. The work is then auctioned at a gala dinner in the Art Gallery of New South Wales with all proceeds from Art of Music Live going to Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, who transform lives through music. In 2013, Flanagan was invited to be part of Adelaide's new literary festival called Word Adelaide, where she participated in two events during the four-day program. Flanagan hosted Yarn Spinning, the opening event of Word Adelaide that celebrates two long-established Australian traditions: telling tall stories and going to the pub. She also featured in the event In Their Own Words, sharing the stage with Matt Lucas of Little Britain fame, Roly Sussex and musician Guy Pratt who performed in the bands Pink Floyd and Icehouse, to explore how the language of comedy has changed our lives and culture. Flanagan hosted and performed stand-up comedy at the Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow to launch the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in March 2017, which then screened on the ABC and ABC iview in April 2017. In 2017, Flanagan co-hosted New Year's Eve: The Early Night Show with Hoot the Owl, which screened on the ABC and ABC iview in December as part of the public broadcaster's New Year's Eve programming.

Community and charity work In 2003 while Flanagan was living and working in the UK, she joined some of the UK's top comedians for a charity fundraiser hosted by comedian Steve Coogan. Flanagan appeared alongside Ross Noble, Johnny Vegas, Simon Pegg, Tim Vine, Lee Mack, Matt Lucas, Rob Brydon, and Mark Williams in Coogan's Drugathon 2 to raise funds for the Chemical Dependency Centre (now named Action on Addiction) and RAPt (The Rehabilitation of Prisoners Trust). Flanagan appeared alongside Australian comedians Julia Morris, Paul McDermott, Mikey Robins, Peter Berner, Fiona O'Loughlin and Tom Gleeson in the fundraising gig at Sydney's Enmore Theatre. and donated half of the profits from her 2013 Bundaberg show to the Queensland Red Cross Flood Appeal.

In 2013, Flanagan and her dog Henry became ambassadors for the Delta Society, which involves taking trained therapy dogs to visit hospitals, care facilities and schools across Australia. As ambassador, Flanagan helped the society to spread the word and promote the society's charitable programs, including Delta Therapy Dogs, Classroom Canines and Delta Dog Safe. and Brotherband novel series.

Awards and nominations

Comedy release 2017 Seriously? Best Comedy Release

Film Year Award Category Work Result Role Ref. 2005 New York City Short Film Festival Award Best Comedy Short Dating Ray Fenwick Writer, director Audience Choice

Television Year Award Category Work Result Role Ref. 2016 6th Annual Equity Ensemble Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Utopia Season 2 (2015) Shared with Rob Sitch, Anthony Lehmann, Celia Pacquola, Dave Lawson, Emma-Louise Wilson, Luke McGregor, Michelle Lim Davidson, Toby Truslove. 2021 2021 Festival Series Mania Best Series in the International Comedy Competition Fisk Writer, director, actor The 54th Annual AWGIE Awards Television Comedy- Situation or Narrative Fisk: Season 1, episode 1 'Portrait of a Lady' Co-writer: Penny Flanagan with Kitty Flanagan 11th Annual AACTA Awards Best Comedy PerformerFisk Kitty Flanagan as Helen Tudor-Fisk Best Narrative Comedy Series Vincent Sheehan, Porchlight Films/ABC 2022 Screen Producers Australia Awards Comedy Program or Series Production of the Year Vincent Sheehan, Porchlight Films Pty Ltd/ABC Logie Awards TV Week Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress Kitty Flanagan as Helen Tudor-Fisk Most Popular Comedy Program 2023 Most Outstanding Comedy Program Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress Kitty Flanagan as Helen Tudor-Fisk 2024Silver Logie for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Utopia Kitty Flanagan as Rhonda Stewart 2025Fisk Kitty Flanagan as Helen Tudor-Fisk Best Scripted Comedy Program

Stand-up comedy Year Award Category Work Result Role Ref. 2010 Helpmann Awards Best Comedy Performer Charming and Alarming Writer, performer 2013 Adelaide Fringe Best Comedy Hello Kitty Flanagan Helpmann Awards Best Comedy Performer Melbourne International Comedy Festival Barry Award for Best Show

Stand-up comedy tours

Filmography

Film

Television Episodes as of season 4. Flanagan reprised her role for season 5 of Utopia in 2023.

Web series

DVD releases + DVD Recordings Year Title Extras/Special Features Notes2009 (production year) 2011 (release year)Charming and Alarming The 7PM Project (now The Project): Kitty Flanagan's segments on 'Pet Résumés', 'Portion Distortion', 'Sickies Spike', 'Online Haggling', 'Quiet Carriages' The Great Debate: The Olympics Are Fools' Gold 1996 Full Frontal sketches Good News Week segment: The Couch Headliners The Sideshow with Paul McDermott: Kitty and Penny Flanagan sing 'Show The World' Kitty Flanagan's short film: 'Dating Ray Fenwick' Region 4 Language: English Running time: 60 minutes 2014 (production and release year)Hello Kitty Flanagan The Project: Kitty Flanagan's segments on 'Social Media', 'Wedding Gift Registries', 'Climbing Trees', 'Dangerous Vegetables', 'Lady Stress', 'Mothers' Questions' The Unbelievable Truth Kitty's Home Movie: Teach Your Dog Tricks Hello Kitty Flanagan Promotional Video Sandgropers' Special: Bonus for Perth people Region 4 Language: English Running time: 70 minutes Hello Kitty Flanagan is available on Netflix for online streaming in the following countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Sweden, UK, USA 2016 (production year) 2017 (release year)Seriously? Have You Been Paying Attention?: The Moth The Weekly with Charlie Pickering: Kitty Flanagan's Spectacular Failures of the 21st Century – Coffee The Yearly with Charlie Pickering: Kitty Flanagan's Spectacular Failures of 2015 – Dishwasher Cooking The Weekly with Charlie Pickering: Kitty Flanagan's Problem Solver – Flushable Wipes The Weekly with Charlie Pickering: Kitty Flanagan's Spectacular Failures of the 21st Century – Humans The Yearly with Charlie Pickering: Kitty Flanagan's Bandwagon Rider – Pokémon The Weekly with Charlie Pickering: Kitty Flanagan's Problem Solver – Sex The Weekly with Charlie Pickering: Kitty Flanagan's Bandwagon Rider – Vaping Region 4 Language: English Running time: 101 minutes (includes 29 minutes of extras)2016 (production year) 2017 (release year)Kitty Flanagan: The Live Collection – DVD Boxset Kitty Flanagan: Charming and Alarming Kitty Flanagan: Hello Kitty Flanagan Kitty Flanagan: Seriously? Region 4 Language: English Running time:

Discography

Singles 2014: Middle Age Lady

Books 2018: Bridge Burning and Other Hobbies by Kitty Flanagan

Published contributions 2014: 'Sharing the things we don't like makes a good date' (Fairfax Media) 2015: 'Being child-free is no reason to keep mum' (Fairfax Media) 2015: 'Is so much noise really necessary?' (Fairfax Media) 2015: 'Here's the tip: US customs is a grey area' (Fairfax Media) 2016: 'Ankle-biters are a total walk in the park' (Fairfax Media) 2016: 'The stupid appliances we waste money on' (Fairfax Media) 2016: 'Modern houses don't need so many bathrooms' (Fairfax Media) 2016: 'Assimilation won't happen overnight but it will happen, just like Pantene' (Fairfax Media) 2016: 'Here's a fact: an opinion is not the same as a fact' (Fairfax Media) 2017: 'When I look at Donald Trump, I see a bit of myself' (Fairfax Media) 2017: 'Teenagers know absolutely everything, except...' (Fairfax Media) 2017: 'Donald Trump has taught me anyone can be a dictator' (Fairfax Media) 2018: 'Avoid the lazy cliches and dig deep for conversation starters with children at Christmas' (Fairfax Media) 2018: 'What's not to love about pavlova? Plenty actually' (Fairfax Media) 2018: 'Let's wrap up this grabby gift registry caper' (Fairfax Media) 2018: 'Kitty Flanagan: A ham-handed separation.' Extract from Kitty Flanagan's Bridge Burning and Other Hobbies, published by Allen and Unwin (Fairfax Media)